Hydrogen Technology

Hydrogen is a medium for storing energy, otherwise known as an energy carrier. All energy carriers and fuels, such as gasoline and natural gas, have the characteristic of being volatile (containing potential energy). Hydrogen’s benefits and disadvantages differ from the fossil fuels commonplace in an advanced energy utilizing society such as in the United States.

In order to have a clear picture of hydrogen’s advantages and disadvantages, the following paragraph contains the facts surrounding hydrogen.
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Hydrogen can be produced in large central plants located as far as several hundred miles from the point of end-use; in smaller, semi-central plants within 20-100 miles of the point of end-use; or in small “distributed generation” facilities located very near or at the point of end-use. All three are expected to play a role in the development of a hydrogen economy. Read the rest of this entry »

Infrastructure is required to move hydrogen from the location where it is produced to the dispenser at a refueling station or stationary power site. Options and trade-offs for hydrogen delivery from central, semi-central, and distributed production facilities to the point of use are complex. Read the rest of this entry »

There are approximately 700 miles of hydrogen pipelines currently operating in the United States (compared to more than one million miles of natural gas pipelines nationwide). Owned by merchant hydrogen producers, these pipelines are located where large hydrogen refineries and chemical plants are concentrated (for example, in the Gulf Coast region). Read the rest of this entry »

Fuel cells directly convert the chemical energy in hydrogen to electricity and some heat. Inside a fuel cell, hydrogen electrochemically combines with oxygen (from the air) to create electricity, with pure water and potentially useful heat as the only by-products. Read the rest of this entry »

The Hydrogen Industry often uses hydrogen sensors to help detect hydrogen leaks and has maintained a high safety record using them for decades. By comparison, natural gas is also odorless, colorless, and tasteless, but industry adds a sulfur-containing odorant to make it readily detectable by people.

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The United States currently produces and safely uses more than nine million metric tons of hydrogen each year, but primarily in a controlled industrial environment. Codes and standards applicable to hydrogen technologies, as well as information on the unique characteristics of hydrogen and its handling, will be essential to achieving the vision of a hydrogen economy.

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